Stay current with legal news in Tennessee. This page features the latest news for and about the Tennessee legal community, either produced by the Tennessee Bar Association or collected from news sources.
The Memphis office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC is helping entrepreneurs in a variety of business accelerator programs in the city, the Memphis Daily News reports. A spokesperson for the firm says it is committed to developing an emerging companies practice and has developed an online video service to offer entrepreneurs tips from the firm’s lawyers. Check out the service
More than 21 states have simplified how they collect taxes in hopes of recovering an estimated $20 billion in sales taxes that go uncollected by out-of-state online merchants every year. But the nation's governors say they still need help from Congress. Speaking on behalf of the National Governors Association, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam told the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that it is not fair to local businesses that online sellers are not always required to collect and distribute state sales taxes. Read more of his remarks in the Bristol Herald Courier
Knoxville lawyer Johnathan Kenneth Borsodi was suspended from the practice of law on July 25 after failing to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility about a complaint of misconduct. Download the BPR notice
The Nashville School of Law announced this week that it has added two attorneys to its faculty. The first, former Tennessee Attorney General Paul G. Summers, will teach administrative law, estate and business classes. The second, attorney Andra J. Hedrick, a former clerk for the Tennessee Court of Appeals, will teach estate planning. Summers is currently a partner at the Waller firm. Hedrick practices at Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin. Both are in Nashville.
Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee today on her work with iCivics, civics education and judicial independence. She also called recent criticism of Chief Justice John Roberts’ vote to uphold the health care law as “unfortunate” and said presidential comments on pending cases are “not ideal.” Read more from Fox News or watch a video of the hearing
An article in the News Sentinel by Robert J. Booker, former executive director of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, details the history of the Knox County Courthouse, which was first established in 1792. According to Booker, at the laying of the current building’s cornerstone in 1885, the keynote speaker recounted how the original courthouse was burned to the ground by a lawyer “resolved to hasten the end of the unworthy structure.” Booker also provides details about subsequent structures used to house the court, and ultimately the construction of what at the time was called "the finest building of the kind in East Tennessee.”
Knox County commissioners on Monday approved a written policy for how prayers are conducted in its public meetings. Commissioners voted 10-1 for the policy, which solidifies a long-standing practice to hold a brief prayer before the start of commission meetings. "You don't have to pray to our God if you don't [want] to, but this [is] our choice, and I'll defend that to my dying day," Commissioner Mike Brown said during the discussion. The policy has drawn criticism from groups like the Knoxville Jewish Alliance, which sent a letter to commissioners. "We're not trying to quash prayer in public," said Jeff Gubitz, with the alliance. "We just think prayer is personal and need not to be invoked to in order to bring decisions in government." WATE reports
Knoxville lawyer Lisa Belle Hatfield received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court today. Her license was suspended for continuing legal education noncompliance and she practiced law for two months while her license was suspended, which constitutes the unauthorized practice of law. Her license was later reinstated when she fulfilled her CLE requirements. Download the BPR release
Lou Ann Zelenik may not have to face a contempt of court citation if she testifies in a state senator's lawsuit before Aug. 8. The ruling came down Monday from Wilson County Judge C.K. Smith who said in the order he's "not inclined to punish" the Republican Congressional candidate if she were to give her deposition by the August date. Zelenik was accused last week of criminal contempt for not appearing for a July 12 court deposition. She was subpoenaed in an ongoing lawsuit brought by State Senator Mae Beavers and her husband Jerry against a Macon County newspaper. WKRN reports
The Georgia Supreme Court stayed Monday's scheduled execution of a man convicted of killing a fellow prison inmate, saying it would consider a defense challenge to the state's recent adoption of a single-drug injection method. The court also said it declined to review a separate defense appeal that claimed Warren Lee Hill is mentally disabled and shouldn't be executed for that reason. The Associated Press reports
Lawyers who speak a second language are a hot commodity, though the jobs they are snagging are usually temporary. Patent and automotive litigation are improving the employment picture for lawyers who speak Asian languages. Also popular are lawyers who can help translate language for deals and documents in emerging economies such as Brazil and India. ABAJournal.com has the details
Joining other GOP groups across the state, Maury County Republicans have signed a resolution opposing Gov. Bill Haslam’s recent appointment of a Muslim woman to a state board, alleging she is an adherent of Sharia Law. The resolution mirrors a document signed in Williamson County last week, bringing the number to at least eight county party organizations that have passed resolutions seeking some sort of action by the state party. Samar Ali, a Vanderbilt University Law School graduate who is of the Muslim faith, was selected by Gov. Haslam in May to serve as the Department of Economic and Community Development’s international director. The Columbia Daily Herald has more on the resolution, while an editorial in the News Sentinel says Ali is extremely qualified and calls for a stop to "hate-filled intolerance," "bigotry" and "fear-fueled accusations."
U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton III delivered the address at Lane College’s summer commencement convocation on Sunday in Jackson, telling the 78 graduates "You have to know where you want to go and who you want to be. You have the tools. You just need the vision in order to succeed.” Stanton was nominated by President Barack Obama for the Western District position in 2010. Read more from Lane College
A lawyer told reporters Tuesday he will bring suit against multiple parties on behalf of a survivor of Friday's mass shooting at an Aurora, Colo., premiere of The Dark Knight Rises. Beverly Hills-based attorney Donald Karpel told TMZ he will file on behalf of Torrence Brown Jr., who attended the midnight showing where the massacre took place. He plans to sue the Century Aurora 16 movie theater, Warner Bros. Entertainment and the doctors for alleged Colorado gunman James Eagan Holmes. WMC has the story
Signal Mountain attorney Joseph Church Wagner died July 19, at the age of 97. He received his law degree from the University of Tennessee in 1940, then joined his father in law practice. After leaving to serve as an FBI special agent he rejoined his father, becoming the senior partner of Wagner, Nelson and Weeks, and later practicing with sons Richard and Michael until the day of his death. Mr. Wagner was proud of having the privilege of making motions before the Tennessee Supreme Court to accept his two sons and one granddaughter to the practice of law in Tennessee. He served as the attorney for the Town of Signal Mountain, retiring after 50 years, and continued to serve as Back Tax Attorney until his death. Funeral services were Monday, with burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery, East Ridge. Memorial contributions may be made to Walden's Ridge Emergency Service, P.O. Box 215, Signal Mountain, TN 37377, or your favorite charity. Read his obituary
A short video is now available to help lawyers when they provide pro bono legal services to persons with disabilities. The project from the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission -- Providing Legal Services to Persons with Disabilities -- raises awareness and reduces the barriers that persons with disabilities face when seeking legal services. The 12-minute video provides general etiquette tips on interacting with individuals with disabilities and highlights specific examples of common scenarios that people with disabilities encounter when seeking legal services. The Disability Law & Advocacy Center of Tennessee developed the video with the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Learn more from the AOC
A federal judge in Michigan has dismissed a suit by 12 Thomas M. Cooley law grads claiming they were misled about their job prospects. U.S. District Judge Gordon Quist dismissed the case on Friday, saying Cooley’s employment stats are “literally true” and the plaintiffs unreasonably relied on the school’s representations, the Wall Street Journal Law Blog reports. The judge also said the state’s consumer protection law does not apply to items purchased for a business purpose, including the purchase of a legal education. ABAJournal.com has more
Police believe the an assault rifle and other weapons used in the shooting spree at a Colorado movie theater last week were purchased legally, even though the state adopted additional restrictions after the mass shootings at Columbine High School. The New York Times has a story on Colorado's gun laws, which it calls "lax." ABAJournal.com connects you to other stories.
Knoxville attorney Robert Shields Holland has died at the age of 68. He began his career teaching history, and coaching basketball and cross-country and later earned his law degree at the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at Memphis State University. He then practiced law with his brother Terry, and longtime Knoxville attorney Francis Headman. His daughter, Shannon M. Holland, later entered the practice. The family was to receive friends at Bearden United Methodist Church, at 4407 Sutherland Avenue in Knoxville, from 5 to 7 p.m. today, followed by a funeral service. Interment will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Middle Creek Cemetery, 1828 Middle Creek Road, in Sevierville. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the M.J. Ivens Memorial Scholarship, named to honor Mr. Holland's grandfather, at 225 Hiwassee College Drive, Madisonville 37354, or to Historic Middle Creek United Methodist Church Building Fund, 1828 Middle Creek Road, Pigeon Forge 37863. Read the obituary
Judge Robert L. “Butch” Childers is the new president of the Law Alumni Chapter of the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis. Other officers are R. Hunter Humphreys, president-elect, and Vickie Hardy Jones, secretary-treasurer. In addition, the school announced that five new board members have been chosen. They are the Hon. George Ellis, the Hon. Gina Higgins, Richard Glassman, Mary Hackett, Michael Joiner and Todd Williams.
